Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Black Lion, Kilburn, NW6
NW6
NW6 2BY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Black Lion
The history of this grade II*-listed pub is well documented on CAMRA’s sites and the pub’s own site; needless to say, the *** interior is absolutely stunning (see photos).
I was last in here around easter 2016, prior to that summer 2004 when for a few earlier years I was a regular, a best friend living round the corner. Aside from some chairs which seemed purloined from an African shaman, this place is unchanged since the previous reviews within the last year, with an unused pump then Thornbridge Lord Marples, By the Horns Diamond Geezer and Five Points Pale (£2.80 a half) drinkable and possibly better than Quinno’s experience, but not great; another customer was overheard questioning its quality so perhaps I’d have had better luck with the other two.
As BF mentions, this is the best pub in the area by a long chalk which says little about the competition, the grade reflecting the reflective interior; undertake the short walk to Maida Vale, visit the Prince Alfred and Warrington to up the heritage experience to 11.
On 19th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Black Lion
This is a stunner. Magnificent pub, totally gorgeous venue. There were four beers on hand pump, my choice was the Thornbridge Lord Marples but I would have snogged Miss Marples if that’s what it took to be here.
Other options were Dudda’s Tun cherry cider, Five Points Pale and Diamond Geezer a red ale from the By the Horns Brewing Co. The keg options were absolutely fantastic and nothing on the boring nothingness of other venues this evening.
In my opinion this is a must visit venue. The pub also has an Indian food offering so if you walk in through the front doors and thing you have died and gone to heaven then I think you are probably right. So many venues I haven’t posted reviews of on here but if I could magic up that effortless task completion then this would still be in the very stratified area of the very best of pubs. Utterly lovely.
On 16th April 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 90 recommendations about 90 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Black Lion
Recently restored and is a CAMRA 3* heritage pub, mainly for the beautiful interior décor (ornate lincrusta ceiling, cornicings, wood panelling, inlaid mirrors, gilded friezes around the walls) rather than the layout which, a small saloon area off-left, has been gutted and opened-out at soe point. On a Sunday early afternoon almost all tables were reserved for Jasper, Phillipa and their Trustafarian friends to have food. Three cask on the go from lesser-known breweries; my Best Bitter by Three Acre Brewery tasted like it was the first one out since the shift the night before (NBSS 2) and my mate’s choice wasn’t much better; we’d have been better off with one of the ciders or craftykeg options. Overall it’s certainly well-worth a visit to see the interior but the cask quality left me underwhelmed. GBG24 listed because of course it is.
On 22nd January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Black Lion
Worthy of the CAMRA 3* rating as a pub of national importance,the exterior is fine Victorian with four doors,two marked a saloons then a public bar and private bar,but only a single saloon remains to the left side,the rest has been opened out at some stage.The ornate,plastered ceiling is noteworthy,the rich wood panelling terrific with some great inlaid morrors and an ornate bar and back.
Furniture is traditional wooden but nothing unusual,and the pub is very clean and tidy almost antiseptic with an upmarket feel in this downmarket area.For some reason no pub sign on my visit.
A real cider and three ales on my trip in Mondo Rider Pale,Track Sanoma and Once Forgotten along with a mix of 9 kegs.
Most certainly worth a visit for the heritage and a decent ale line up,best pub in the area by a long chalk.
On 4th August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Black Lion
Superb interior to this non cask but lots of keg emporium.Read the last review for for a superb write-up of the interior.He did the hard work I just had to relax and drink the beer.
On 25th January 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Black Lion
This is a beautiful heritage pub close to both Kilburn and Brondesbury stations. The place has a remarkable ornate interior, despite having been opened out into single, staple shaped room with a snug behind one remaining partioning wall. The main room has scuffed floorboards and a row of beer stained sofas and armchairs under the large plain front windows with smarter Chesterfields down either side of the room. One ancient looking high backed chair stands front centre, looking rather important, although there is no explanation as to its significance. The servery stands in the middle of the rear wall and has an original curved end counter and smartly worked matching bar back. A corner entrance to the left boasts an etched glass door under a TV screen and that side of room is notable for the large etched glass mirrors covering the entire end wall. An impressive gold frieze runs around the entire pub and the highlight of the whole pub has to be the copper relief images of folk drinking, smoking, playing bowls and painting, all over to the right of the room. The ceiling is also rather spectacular thanks to a gold rose and leaf motif. A fireplace to the right has a modest tiled surround and large wooden frame above bearing a "Gold Room" etched pane, hinting at the aforementioned decorative features. Both the snug to the rear left, behind fabulous etched glass panes, and a side room to the right have modern tree-themed wallpaper with the latter also having an open kitchen, bookcase wallpaper and rows of formal seating in a less traditional environment. There is a small outdoor seating area down the side of the pub, near the entrance to a nice park and food was available with most mains around 10-12 quid.
There are two handpulls on the bar, both of which were off so I ended up with a pint of Meantime Pale Ale from the limited keg selection at £5.05. The bar staff seemed pleasant enough and acted as reception staff for the guests checking into the rooms above.
This is a stunning pub which I thought was most definitely worth breaking my journey for in order to visit. It's a shame that they don't seem able to support any ales on the bar, especially as the area is underrepresented in that respect, but anyone interested in historic pub interiors should brave it regardless, as it's one of the capital's finest.
On 24th December 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Black Lion
Still a handsome pub and still worth searching out for the interior décor alone. But functions more as a restaurant cum wine bar nowadays and the available cocktail and wine lists on the chalk boards above the main bar area now far exceed the number of beer pumps and from what I could see Camden Town Hells Lager and Guinness are the only beers which are now available from tap, but the fridges stock a range of Ciders and Real Ales by the bottle, so at least I could enjoy a pint of Waggle dance with our lunch, or at least I could after both the glass and bottle had thawed out.
We chose to visit here as it is still one of the better looking establishments on the Kilburn High Road and despite the lack of any decent ale the available lunchtime tapas type dishes menu and the comfort and ambience to enjoy it in was very high..
On 19th May 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Black Lion
Handsomely decorated, both inside and out. This ex-Truman pub, rebuilt in 1898, has lost most of its etched glazing in the front windows but many features of interest remain inside the large staple-shaped bar. Side dining room with slightly disturbing white colour scheme. Exterior seating area to one side. Prominent 'Guest House' signage. Just one handpump, offering Doom Bar (£3.40). Overall, well worth a visit just to admire the interior.
On 29th September 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8087 recommendations about 8087 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Black Lion
Until yesterday I hadn't been in to this pub since the days of John the landlord when this was a famous pub on the darting circuit. There were boards in the bar area and side room which has now become a restaurant and there were more boards upstairs which has now become a B&B guesthouse. There were also numerous plasma screens and a projector for the showing of Sky Sports, but now there is a solitary plasma screen above the front door which was off and I'd be surprised if it is ever switched on for anything. The ornate fixtures and fittings are all still in attendance, but they are a lot cleaner and the place seems brighter without the haze of smoke wafting around the bar – for shame!
I don't remember any ale being on offer here before and I wouldn't have drunk it anyway, but now Landlord and Doom Bar are available along with Amstel, Hoegarden and a standard draught selection. I thought that the attitude of the barmaid fitted in well with the pub, efficient yet apathetic.
To be fair this place is probably an improvement on its last incarnation to the vast majority of the population of this great land, but I liked it just how it was as it was a fun destination pub rather than a soulless stop off on the way home from work.
On 15th November 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Black Lion
Two real ales on – Timothy Taylor Landlord and Sharp’s Doom Bar. I had the latter, which was fine, but not cheap at £3.20 a pint. But it was served in a branded glass, which is a nice touch. The food on offer seemed quite expensive as well, as it was essentially pub grub – e.g. burger and chips for £7.50 and sausage and mash for £7.20. I didn’t eat there so cannot comment on the quality. No-one was eating when I was in on Wednesday lunchtime.
The pub itself is quite impressive, having retained most of its original Victorian features. It boasts an impressive gilded Lincrusta (I think ) ceiling; gilded friezes around the walls; some cut and etched glass in the windows along the side, and carved wood all over the place. A glass panel above the fireplace proclaims the large room to be the Gold Room. It’s well named. There’s also a separate dining room. It’s a very impressive pub, thoroughly deserving its inclusion as a CAMRA London heritage pub. Furnishings are a mixture of sofas/low tables (the bane of the six-footer!), solid pine furniture, and normal tables and chairs. But I found it a little soulless on my visit. I’m not sure why – I suppose the nearly empty large (Gold) room made it seem that way on a quiet Wednesday lunchtime. I suppose it would be very different on a busy evening. Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth a visit to have a butcher’s at the very impressive interior décor.
On 15th July 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]